Divergence on the Lectionary – Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year C
First Reading Acts 16:16–34 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C
When I first realized that I was about to complete three years of Divergences, I decided that the next time through the three years of the Lectionary, I would add a section to each one called “so what?” I’d try to take the often rather academic approach in a lot of the Divergences and bring […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Fifth Sunday of Easter – Year C
First Reading Acts 11:1–18 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” But Peter began and explained it to them […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year C
First Reading Acts 9:36–43 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Third Sunday of Easter, Year C
First Reading Acts 9:1–6 (7-20) But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as […]
Divergence on the Lectionary, Second Sunday of Easter, Year C
First Reading Acts 5:27–32 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Easter Sunday, Year C (Principal Service)
First Reading Acts 10:34–43 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Passion Sunday, Year C
Because the Passion Narrative for this Sunday is so long, I’m putting a link here so that you can click straight to the Comments and Questions for Discussion if you’d rather do that than scroll and scroll (and scroll). (Click Here for Comments and Questions.) First Reading Isaiah 50:4–9a The Lord GOD has given me […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Fifth Sunday in Lent, Year C
First Reading Isaiah 43:16–21 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year C
First Lesson Joshua 5:9–12 (earlier verses added for context) As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel […]
Divergence on the Lectionary, Third Sunday in Lent, Year C
First Reading Exodus 3:1–15 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Second Sunday in Lent, Year C
First Reading Genesis 15:1-12,17-18 (omitted verses in italics) After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Ash Wednesday (all readings)
First Reading Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – First Sunday in Lent, Year C
First Reading Deuteronomy 26:1–11 “When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance and have taken possession of it and live in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the LORD your […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Last Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C
First Reading Exodus 34:29–35 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, […]
Divergence on the Lectionary – Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C
First Reading Genesis 45:3-11, 15 (omitted verses in italics) And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, […]
